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Boys can't finish late rally of their own
By Joe Warren
Nevada Daily Mail
WEBB CITY, Mo. -- A furious fourth quarter rally just fell short as the Nevada Tigers dropped their Southwest Conference opener at Webb City Tuesday, 66-59.
Trailing by 20 after three periods, the Tigers outscored the Cardinals 29-16 in the fourth, getting 11 points from senior Bryan Campbell and 10 from senior Drew Weatherly.
The big period wasn't enough to offset Webb City's second and third quarters, when they had outdone Nevada by 19.
"We played hard until the end, I'm proud of them for that," Nevada assistant coach Andy Smith said. Smith was acting as head coach for the game because usual head coach John McNeley was forced to sit out after being ejected from Saturday's game at Warrensburg.
"The second quarter just killed us," Smith said.
Webb City led by one (13-12) after one period, then stretched their lead to 13 by the break. Nevada's usually stingy defense couldn't slow down the more athletic Cardinals as they pumped in 22 points in the second quarter to take a 35-22 halftime lead.
Sophomore Trey Laveroni and junior Landon Zerkel led the second quarter charge as they each dropped in six. Zerkel's came from long range and seemed to have an especially chilling effect on Nevada's spirits.
"They stretched us out defensively (in the second quarter) and hit those 3's," Smith said.
Nevada was the aggressor in the opening period.
Weatherly got things started on the right foot as he dropped a trey from the right corner to put Nevada up 3-0 on the game's first possession.
Zerkel answered with the first of his three from downtown to tie it up, but the Tigers came right back when James Tumm turned an offensive board into points for a 5-3 lead.
Again Webb City had an answer as Chance Sossamon tied it at five, but Campbell hit a leaner for two of his game-high 26 points, giving Nevada another small lead.
Collin Howard scored for the Cardinals, tying it at seven, when Nevada took their biggest lead of the game on a 3-pointer by Jordan Kerbs to make it 10-7.
Webb City finally exerted their quickness for the rest of the period, scoring three consecutive buckets to take a 13-10 lead, before Campbell finished the period with a short jumper to make it 13-12.
Webb City scored the first eight points of the second quarter and controlled from then until a late run made things interesting in the final period.
Down 50-30 after three, the Tigers began the fourth with a triple from Weatherly. Alan Pink scored to make it a 19-point game, but Nevada followed with a 7-0 run, five of them coming from Campbell.
Webb City called a timeout after Campbell's 3-pointer made it 52-40.
The break did little to halt Nevada's momentum, as they continued to battle, getting as close as seven on two occasions, including for the final margin.
"I think it's a good start for us," Smith said of the run to end the fourth quarter.
Smith said he enjoyed his varsity coaching experience but had no designs on wanting to make it long term.
"I would have rather Coach Mac been there, but it's my job," he said. "I like sitting on the bench next to Coach Mac."
The Tigers (7-5 overall, 0-1 in the Southwest Conference) will be in Anderson, Mo., Friday when they take on McDonald County in another conference battle.
Webb City (6-5, 2-0) hosts Carthage Friday.